Force Feedback System Including Multi-Tasking Graphical Host Environment

1. A method of generating a haptic effect, the method comprising: executing at least two applications concurrently, wherein one of the applications is an active application; receiving a user interaction with the active application, wherein the user interaction comprises a contact with a touch-sensitive panel; in response to the contact, receiving a force effect command from the active application; and in response to the received force effect command, generating the haptic effect on the touch-sensitive panel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the force effect command is received via an application program interface (API) that is accessible to the applications.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contact is with a graphical object viewable on the touch-sensitive panel.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each application comprises at least one data set that represents a type of haptic effect.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the force effect command is based at least on one of: a location of the contact on the touch-sensitive panel or a state of a graphical object viewable on the touch-sensitive panel.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two applications are executed on a processor that is in remote communication with the touch-sensitive panel.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two applications are executed on a device that is integrated with the touch-sensitive panel.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the haptic effect is generated by one or more actuators coupled to the touch-sensitive panel.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to generate a haptic effect, the generation comprising: executing at least two applications concurrently, wherein one of the applications is an active application; receiving a user interaction with the active application, wherein the user interaction comprises a contact with a touch-sensitive panel; in response to the contact, receiving a force effect command from the active application; and in response to the received force effect command, generating the haptic effect on the touch-sensitive panel.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the force effect command is received via an application program interface (API) that is accessible to the applications.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the contact is with a graphical object viewable on the touch-sensitive panel.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein each application comprises at least one data set that represents a type of haptic effect.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the force effect command is based at least on one of: a location of the contact on the touch-sensitive panel or a state of a graphical object viewable on the touch-sensitive panel.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the at least two applications are executed on a processor that is in remote communication with the touch-sensitive panel.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the at least two applications are executed on a device that is integrated with the touch-sensitive panel.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the haptic effect is generated by one or more actuators coupled to the touch-sensitive panel.

17. A haptically enabled device comprising: a processor; and a touch-sensitive panel coupled to the processor; wherein the processor executes instructions to generate haptic effects on the haptically-enabled device comprising: executing at least two applications concurrently, wherein one of the applications is an active application; receiving a user interaction with the active application, wherein the user interaction comprises a contact with a touch-sensitive panel; in response to the contact, receiving a force effect command from the active application; and in response to the received force effect command, generating the haptic effect on the touch-sensitive panel.

18. The haptically enabled device of claim 17 , wherein the force effect command is received via an application program interface (API) that is accessible to the applications.

19. The haptically enabled device of claim 17 , wherein each application comprises at least one data set that represents a type of haptic effect.

20. The haptically enabled device of claim 17 , wherein the force effect command is based at least on one of: a location of the contact on the touch-sensitive panel or a state of a graphical object viewable on the touch-sensitive panel.